Looney -Absalom- Branch

Creek, the same land granted by N.C., No. B, 311, to Absalom 3 Looney, The witnesses were Richard Mitchell, Samuel Wilson and Thomas Gillenwaters. No further, that is later, records of Absalom 3 Looney are found in Tennessee.

Further investigation shows that Jon. Hunt made his first installment payment at Huntsville, Ala. on 9 April 1810 as assignee of Jas. Manning. On 19 Aug. 1811 Absalom 3 Looney made the second installment payment as assignee of John Hunt. Therefore, it is clear that absalom 3 purchased John Hunt's interest between 9 April 1810 and 19 Aug. 1811.

There is a tradition that Absalom 3 Looney came to Alabama via Petersburg, Lincoln Co., Tenn. This is probably because Absalom must have known that his brother Jonathan 3 (and wife Jane) lived near there, and also that his cousin big Petter 3 Luna (Peter 2) was settling near there at about that time. (In 1810 Petter 3 Luna purchased a lot in Fayetteville.) It should be remembered that Jane (Harbeson) Looney may have been a sister to James Harbison who served in the revolutionary War with absalom 3 Looney and m. Ann Looney, sister to Jonathan 3 and Absalom 3.

If Absalom 3 and family traveled via Lincoln Co., Tenn., on their move to Huntsville, Ala., they did not remain long there because on an 1811 tax list for Madison Co., Ala., absalom was listed for 160 acres on Indian Creek, with 2 polls and 6 slaves. In 1812 he had 1 poll and 5 slaves.

Absalom 3 Looney made final payment on his 160 acres, about 2 miles south of Huntsville on Indian Creek, on 19 April 1810 and the Grant was issued, Certificate 75. On 23 Dec. 1816 Absalom

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Looney was a purchaser at the sales of the effects of Jacob Sively of Madison Co., Ala. (bookCD,1,89).

Absalom Looney served on a jury for the week beginning 18 Nov. 1816. (Circuit court Min. 1815, book 2.) He was also names as a juror 17 May 1817, 11 and 12 Nov. 1817. (Orphan's Court book 1).

On 27 June 1817 the southeast 1/4 of Section 11, township 5 south, Range 1 east, 160 acres was granted to Absalom Looney. this quarter section was about 8 miles southeast of Huntsville. On 26 Feb. 1818 Absalom Looney purchased the northern half of Section 14, township 5 south, range 2 west (Certificates 1748, 1785); 320 acres. These 320 acres were about 10 miles southwest of Huntsville on or near Indian Creek and nearer Triana, onetime called Looney's Landing on the Tennessee River.

When Jacob Fuqua had license to marry Margaret Looney, on 25 Aug. 1818, Absalom Looney was surety.

No record evidence of the name of absalom Looney's wife has been found. Mrs. O.H. Looney of Nashville reported in 1963 that absalom 3 Looney m. 21 Sept. 1791 Peggy Wills.

The estate of Absalom Looney was appraised 19 Nov. 1818 by Robert Beaty, William Thompson, and Archibald McDonnell. John Looney was administrator. (wills and Inv. 208). The effects were sold at auction on 4 Jan. 1819 by John W. Looney; total receipts $8,425.94. The list of sales recorded 22 June 1819 mentions 1 hog as having been killed for use of "the family." (Wills and Inv., 198.)

In the Huntsville republican of 28 Dec. 1821, John W. Looney, admr. of the estate of Absalom Looney, decd., advertised for rent

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the plantation of 100 (160/ wbl) acres where Absalum (sp wbl)Looney lived, 2 miles south from Huntsville on Indian Creek; likewise the plantation belonging to the Looney estate at Big Cove. This may indicate that Absalom's wife survived him and, accordingly, that the real estate was not sold and divided immediately. In the notice of sale, accordingly, it was stated that the plantation would be rented for 1 year and possession given the same week.

Absalom 3 Looney died possessed of his home plantation of 160 acres near Huntsville, 320 acres, southwest, near Triana, and 160 acres about 9 miles southeast of Huntsville.

The widow may have died just before John W. Looney, admr., sold the home plantation to the Brandons on 3 Jan. 1825.

        The children of Absalom 3 Looney were:

                John 4 Warren Looney b. say 1793, Tenn.  See 4th Gen.
                Margaret Looney b. say 1797, Tenn., m. (lic) 25 Aug.,
                        1818, Madison Co., Ala., Jacob Fuqua. Absalom Looney
                        was surety.  About 1827 Ailas Fuqua was administrator
                        or Jacob Fuqua, Franklin Co., Ala. and John W. Looney
                        was guardian of Stokley and Perrine Fuqua. (Was Margaret
                        Looney's name Mary Margaret and was she the one
                        called "Polly" by tradition?)
        Martha Looney (called Patsy) b. say 1801, Tenn., m. Col.
                Fleming Hodges (who d. ca1828) by Jo. Smith, J.P., 14
                Apr. 1823 as 2nd wife.  (Morgan Co., Ala., lic.)
        Absalom 4 Looney b. 1809, Tenn.  see 4th Gen.
                (according to tradition, there was a "Susan" in this
                family.  Is there any connection with Elijah Looney b.

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                ca 1805 who m. (lic) 7 June 1828 Susan Dickey in Madison
                Co., Ala.?  see 1830 census of Madison Co., Ala., 1840
                census of Marshall Co., Val., (? wbl) and perhaps 1850 census of
                Hardin Co., Tenn., for possible interest.)

Benjamin 3 Looney was born ca1774, say, perhaps on the 54-acre tract on Craig's Creek, Augusta Co., Va., which his parents had purchased 10 Sept, 1767. Benjamin married in Botetourt co., license of 22 July 1793, Elizabeth McClure. By his father's will dated 28 Sept., 1791, proved in June of 1796, Benjamin received all the estate except 5 shillings to each of his brothers and sisters. On the 27th of October following proof of the will, Benjamin Looney sold to Isaac Taylor, both being of Botetourt co., the 54-acre tract on Stone run, a branch of Craig's Creek. (Botetourt Deeds 7, 317). Stoney run was the name of the stream when the land was in Augusta Co.; much later and after it became Botetourt CO/ the falls became known as Buttermilk falls and then Meadow Creek and fall. After 1851 the land was in Craig Co., Va.

On 25 Feb. 1798 William McGraw deeded to Benjamin Looney for $666 2/3. ; 58 acres on north side of Holston river and north side of Big Creek, adjoining land surveyed for Evan Shelby. Gabrial McGraw and Drury Holt were witnesses (Hawkins Co., Tenn., Deed 2, p. 375.) But Wm. McGraw sued Benjamin Looney 10 Dec. 1799

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for $218.90 and obtained judgment, recorded Nov. 1799. Sheriff Alexander Nelson of Hawkins sold the 158 acres to Michael 3 Looney 22 Feb. 1800 at public auction to satisfy a judgment of $218.90. (Hawkins Deeds 1, p. 307).

At the 1830 census of Hawkins Co., Benjamin 3 Looney (b. 1775 +/- 5) wife in same age group are listed with 1 boy b. 1812.5 +/- 5 (probably Absalom), 2 females b. 1805 +/- 5, 1 girl b. 1822.5 +/- 2.5, and 1 girl b. 1827.5 +/- 2.5.

At the 1840 census of Hawkins he is listed as Benj. Looney Sr. (b. 1775 +/- 5), with 1 female in same age group and with 1 female b. 1805 +/- 5), and another b. 1837.5 +/- 2.5. Benjamin 3 Looney is not found in 1850 in the census of Hawkins Co. It is presumed that he died between 1840 and 1850. Benjamin 3 Looney was known as "Big Ben" according to tradition. The children of Benjamin 3 and "Bettie" (McClure) Looney are given by collected family accounts, census records, land records, etc., as:

        Kate 4 Looney b. ca 1795, said to have m. George Owen who was
                listed in the 1840 census of Hawkins Co. with wife in same
                age group and 7 children, including probably, Clinton Owen
                who was 20-30 in 1840.  It is said that George Owen was an
                English soldier who remained in the U.S.A. after the war
                of 1812.
        Phoebe 4 Looney b. ca 1797, m. William Owen who was listed in
                the 1830 census of Hawkins Co., b. 1795 +/_ 5 with wife in
                same age group and 7 children, 3 boys and 4 girls, all
                under 15 years.  William Owen died 1848 to 1855 and
                under 15 years.  William Owen died 1848 to 1855 and
                Phoebe Owen did in March 1861 and her administrator was

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